International Development Association

Baroness Amos: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has made the following Statement.
	In 2002, the UK agreed to contribute £900 million to the 13th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessional lending arm which is designed to meet the needs of the world's poorest countries. In addition to this contribution, the UK set aside another £100 million to be provided on condition that a satisfactory framework was agreed to compensate the IDA for the costs of introducing grants under its 13th replenishment (IDA 13). Both the initial £900 million contribution and the additional provisional contribution of £100 million were approved by Parliament on 3 December 2002.
	I am pleased to announce that a satisfactory framework for compensating IDA 13 for the introduction of grants has now been agreed. Under this framework, donors will compensate IDA upfront for the administrative costs associated with providing grants, through making additional contributions to the next replenishment (IDA 14). (These are costs which arise early in the project cycle and, in the case of loans, would be covered by recipient countries.) Meanwhile, donors will compensate for the lost reflows from recipient countries as and when these would have fallen due. Given the 10-year grace period provided under IDA on repayment of loans, this would not have happened until 2013 at the earliest. Compensation payments will not therefore be required until this time, and the exact means of compensation will be discussed as part of future IDA replenishments.
	An essential and fundamental principle of the agreed grants compensation framework is that donors should contribute to the cost of compensation in line with their share of IDA 13 (their "burden share"). If the UK were to contribute the full £100 million set aside to cover the costs of upfront compensation, we would effectively displace the contributions of other donors. We have therefore decided to cover both our burden share under IDA 13, and the structural financing gap inherent in this replenishment (equivalent to 9.37 per cent of total resource needs from donors), making a total UK contribution for upfront IDA 13 grants compensation of £64.8 million.

Northern Ireland Parliamentary Boundary Commission

Baroness Amos: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made the following Ministerial Statement.
	The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, as amended by the Boundary Commissions Act 1992 requires that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland undertake periodical reviews of constituencies in Northern Ireland. The commission is required to submit a report to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland not less than eight or more than 12 years from its last report. The present review commenced on 16 May 2003.
	The commission is announcing its provisional recommendations for constituencies in Northern Ireland today. The proposals are to be made available for public inspection at district council headquarters and electoral offices, public libraries and the offices of the Electoral Commission and the Boundary Commission to coincide with the formal publication of the provisional recommendations on 6 May. The commission is required to take into consideration any representations made within one month of publication of the proposals.
	I will, of course, report back to Parliament once the commission has made its final recommendations.

Department for International Development: Departmental Report 2004

Baroness Amos: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development is today laying before Parliament copies of the Department for International Development's departmental report 2004.

Crown Prosecution Service

Lord Goldsmith: The Director of Public Prosecutions has, in accordance with Section 7A of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 as amended by Section 53 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, extended the remit of work that may be undertaken by Crown Prosecution Service designated caseworkers.
	Designated caseworkers are now permitted to undertake all work in the magistrates' court other than: trials; proofs in absence in either-way cases; committals and sendings; pre-trial reviews; Newton hearings; contested bail hearings.
	The extended remit of designated caseworkers will enhance the role of the designated caseworker and enable more effective court listing. It will also support the effective delivery by the Crown Prosecution Service of pre-charge advice.
	A designated caseworker will not be permitted to undertake the extended remit until successfully completing a training programme and receiving a personal letter of appointment from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
	The following documents will be lodged in the Libraries of Parliament:
	The extended remit of Crown Prosecution Service designated caseworkers.
	The governance scheme for Crown Prosecution Service designated caseworkers, which sets out the supervision arrangements.
	The statement of ethical principles for Crown Prosecution Service designated caseworkers.

Iran: Export Licence

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have issued an open licence for the export to Iran of goods that will be listed in the United Kingdom strategic export controls annual report as "components for military aero engines". The goods will be used by the oil and gas industry to overhaul turbines that power pumps for oil and gas pipelines. The goods are military listed because they were originally designed and used for military aircraft engines. In this instance, the Government are satisfied that there is a minimal risk of diversion to a military end use and are prepared to make an exception to the UK national arms embargo. Other aspects of the application were considered against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

Immigration Rules

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I have today laid before the House a statement of changes to the immigration rules. From 1 May 2004, as a result of the accession of 10 new states to the European Union, nationals of those EU accession states will not require immigration leave to enter or stay in the UK. Consequently it is necessary to remove all references to the individual EU accession states in the immigration rules with effect from the date of accession.
	We have also decided to amend the European Economic Area (EEA) national settlement requirements to enable those currently in immigration categories leading to settlement to aggregate time spent here under the immigration rules with that as an EEA national in the UK when making an application to settle. This ensures that new EU nationals will not have to spend a longer time in the UK to qualify for settlement than they would if accession had not occurred. This mirrors the practice followed in previous accessions.

Zahid Mubarek: Public Inquiry

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Today my right honourable friend the Home Secretary (David Blunkett) announced that, in line with the House of Lords judgment on 16 October 2003, he has established a public inquiry into the murder of Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offender Institution in March 2000. The honourable Mr Justice Keith will chair the inquiry; he will be assisted by three expert advisors who will provide advice and support to the inquiry on matters relating to race, prison operations and issues affecting prisoners. The inquiry will start immediately with the following terms of reference:
	In the light of the House of Lords judgment in the case of Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Amin, to investigate and report to the Home Secretary on the death of Zahid Mubarek, and the events leading up to the attack on him, and make recommendations about the prevention of such attacks in the future, taking into account the investigations that have already taken place—in particular, those by the Prison Service and the Commission for Racial Equality.
	A report of the inquiry, subject to matters of confidentiality, will be published.

Food Standards Agency: Departmental Report Spring 2004

Lord Warner: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health (Miss Johnson) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement today.
	The Food Standards Agency's departmental report spring 2004, Cm 6205 was laid before Parliament today.
	Copies will be placed in the Library.

Department of Health: Annual Report 2004

Lord Warner: The department's annual report for 2004, Cm 6204, was laid before Parliament today.
	Copies have been placed in the Library.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office: Key Targets 2004–05

Lord Bach: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ivor Caplin) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Key targets have been set for the chief executive of the UK Hydrographic Office for the financial year 2004–05. The targets are designed to drive further improvements to the agency's performance and are as follows:
	Key Target 1. Safety. While aiming for 100 per cent, to achieve a safety index exceeding 95 per cent. All radio navigational warnings issued to timescale.
	Key Target 2. Defence. To achieve an index rating of more than 95 for the defence programme as set out in the tasking authorisation forms.
	Key Target 3. Customer Satisfaction. Customer and end user satisfaction to exceed a scale rating of 87 by the end of the financial year 2004–05.
	Key Target 4. Wider Markets. To earn revenue of £2.4 million from markets other than SOLAS navigational products and services.
	Key Target 5. Finance. To break even taking one year with another, and to achieve a return on capital employed of 9 per cent averaged over the period 2004–05 to 2008–09.
	Key Target 6. Finance. Mark-up to be reduced to 200 per cent by end 2004–05.

Air Combat Service Support Units

Lord Bach: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Defence (Mr Adam Ingram) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Ministry of Defence is continually examining ways of improving military capability and value for money for the taxpayer, including by keeping the size and location of our bases under review.
	On 14 August 2003, I announced a review of the future basing requirement for the RAF's air combat service support units (ACSSUs), elements of the air surveillance and control system (ASACS) and some other minor units and the potential impact on the future requirement for RAF Boulmer, RAF Neatishead, RAF Sealand and RAF Stafford, should relocation of units currently based there be recommended.
	The primary objective of this particular review was to meet the department's basing needs in the light of the move towards expeditionary operations. A number of options were identified on which my officials have consulted widely. A number of honourable Members have made representations. The review has now concluded.
	I am now able to inform the House that I am inclined, subject to formal consultation with the trade unions, to accept the option which creates an ACSSU communications hub and a base for ASACS units at RAF Scampton and an ACSSU logistics hub at RAF Wittering. Implementation of this option as a whole would be over an extended period, beginning later this year and not complete until about 2012.
	This option offers the greatest operational flexibility to our Armed Forces by collocating support units on main operating bases. It is also the most cost-effective solution. It would mean that communications personnel would relocate to Scampton from RAF Sealand (from 2005) and RAF Brize Norton (from 2005), together with ASACS units currently based at RAF Neatishead (from 2004–05) and RAF Boulmer (from 2009), bringing the total number of people at the station up to around 2,400 by 2012. In the case of RAF Wittering, logistics personnel would relocate from RAF Stafford (from 2005). This would increase the number of personnel at the station to around 2,130 by 2006.
	The Ministry of Defence has written to the trade unions to ask for their formal response to this option by 7 June 2004.
	I will make my decision when I have received trade unions' comments and will inform the House at that time.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Annual Report 2004

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:
	I am today arranging for my department's annual report [Cm 6220] to be laid before Parliament in advance of publication on 30 April.
	Copies will be deposited in the House Libraries and the text made available on the department's website at http://www.culture.gov.uk.

Devolved Powers: Scottish Legislative Proposals

Lord Filkin: I am today publishing a protocol on Scottish legislative proposals giving devolved powers and functions to UK bodies. This has been agreed by the UK Government and the Scottish Executive. It will be published as one of our series of devolution guidance notes and copies will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and on the following website: http://www.dca.gov.uk/.

Cabinet Office: Departmental Report 2004

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Yesterday my honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office along, with my right honourable friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, laid before Parliament the Cabinet Office departmental report 2004 [Cm 6226].
	The report describes the work of the Cabinet Office and includes a performance report for each of our public service agreement targets. It explains how significant changes to the Cabinet Office's leadership and internal structure over the past year have enhanced our ability to deliver our objectives. The report also includes a set of tables showing past outturn and future expenditure plans.
	Copies are available in the Printed Paper Office and in the Library.